[Shaun]

Originally Posted by jennyjuniper

It's the type of strangers. As I said in my post, why give aid to Pakistan, when they can afford to produce nuclear weapons. Give me an answer to that instead of a hypothetical scenerio which doesn't even compare.

We can afford nuclear weapons too but would you go so far as to say that there's not a single UK citizen living in poverty? One would argue our government should do more to provide for those that are here, too.

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Shaun

We can afford nuclear weapons too but would you go so far as to say that there's not a single UK citizen living in poverty? One would argue our government should do more to provide for those that are here, too.

This ^^^^^^^^^

So many families live in poverty all because the government would rather give all the money to people that dont concern them we need to sort our own country out before sorting everyone else out.

[jennyjuniper]

Originally Posted by Shaun

We can afford nuclear weapons too but would you go so far as to say that there's not a single UK citizen living in poverty? One would argue our government should do more to provide for those that are here, too.

That was my point Shaun, that we have to host charity events to support childrens hospitals and charities, the NHS is crumbling and we are giving money to countries that would be better spent on our own poor and needy.

[Ammi]

..I don't know, I think that it's a bit of a complicated one..even though some countries have things like nuclear weapons etc, if they didn't receive foreign aid for development of things like hospitals/schools etc...all it would achieve is that they would still have nuclear weapons but wouldn't have some of the things that the aid helps to fund.../from governments and countries, aid isn't just given as a charitable thing..it's also mutually beneficial in trade etc and many things but it also does benefit those who need it../well whatever percentage that actually goes to projects...we're not really helping to fund weapons and our own potential destruction with those weapons although I can see why it feels a bit screwed up like that but those people desperately needing aid aren't the ones who make the decisions about their government spending..so to not give it would just mean 'two wrongs' I guess, being screwed by their governments in some cases and then being screwed again by other countries ...it would be an ideal in the world if aid could be given directly and always by-passing governments but that's just not the way it is because the generosity of a country gives them something back as well and expects something back in terms of trade etc...so corruption and misuse always also will be involved...and really I don't personally believe that if we didn't give aid, it would make any difference at all in addressing 'home needs'..it's never been an 'either/or' thing...either no one benefits or someone does and in giving aid, someone does...